If all goes well, in just 27 days, Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta will occupy the same starting gate for the first time in the Apple Blossom Invitational.

First, though, fans will have to be content with watching them start within a half-hour of each other, as both make their respective season debuts today.

Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra will start in the $200,000 New Orleans Ladies Stakes at the Fair Grounds, which is slated to go off at 6:15 p.m. EST. Just 21 minutes later, two-time champion older female Zenyatta goes postward in the Grade I, $250,000 Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap at Santa Anita.

The New Orleans Ladies, a mile and a sixteenth stake, was created for the purpose of attracting Rachel Alexandra, who has been stabled at the Fair Grounds since late November. The 4-year-old is making her first start since defeating older males in the Woodward last Sept. 5 at Saratoga, capping a Horse of the Year campaign that included wins in the Kentucky Oaks, Preakness, Mother Goose and Haskell.

Rachel Alexandra, who breaks from the two in a short field of five for the New Orleans Ladies, will have regular rider Calvin Borel aboard. The filly also gets an equipment change, as trainer Steve Asmussen replaced her regular bridle with a figure eight noseband, a bridle many of Asmussen’s horses wear that can sometimes help a horse relax and soften its carriage. Rachel Alexandra, on an accelerated work schedule in order to make the New Orleans Ladies and Apple Blossom, has been exceptionally keen in her morning works, and some worry fitness is an issue coming off her long layoff.

“We’re happy with where she’s at now,” Asmussen said following her last work. “The main thing is she’s healthy and this is a step in the process to getting her back to her previous level.”

The only other graded winner in the field, Zardana, ships in from California for John Shirreffs, who, of course, also trains Zenyatta. Davis Flores will be aboard the winner of Hollywood Park’s Bayakoa Handicap as they leave from the three, just outside of Rachel.

Clear Sailing, who breaks from post 5 under Shane Sellers, is a Fair Grounds specialist, having won an allowance by eight and the Pelleteri Stakes in her last start. Fighter Wing (Corey Lanerie, rail), second behind Clear Sailing in the Pelleteri, and Unforgotten (Miguel Mena, post 4), unplaced in the Sunshine Millions Distaff last out, complete the field.

Zenyatta drew post eight in a field of nine for the Santa Margarita, a race she also won during the first of her two championship campaigns in 2008. The 6-year-old daughter of Street Cry hasn’t started since becoming the first female to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 7, improving her record to a perfect 14-for-14 lifetime. It was thought she’d be retired after that race, but in January, owners Jerry and Ann Moss announced that their star would return for one more season.

Zenyatta carries 127 pounds, including regular rider Mike Smith, in the nine furlong event. She gives between 12 to 19 pounds to her rivals.

“It’s a lot of weight to spot them starting off the year, but fortunately for us she’s a big mare and carries her weight very well, so, hopefully, it won’t bother her too much,” Smith said. “She’s ready for something and I’m really looking forward to it.”

Striking Dancer, who carries the next highest weight at 115, won the Grade II La Canada at Santa Anita last time out. Alex Solis rides the filly, who breaks from post 5.

Chantal Sutherland rides Pretty Unusual, who she partnered to a win in the Grade II El Encino three starts back. But in her last two efforts, the filly was unplaced in the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf and the Buena Vista Handicap.

Dance To My Tune (Martin Garcia, rail), Pretty Katherine (Joel Rosario, post 2), Made For Magic (Barrio, post 3), Gripsholm Castle (Victor Espinoza, post 6), Powerofvoodoo (Kaplan, post 7) and Floating Heart (Joe Talamo, post 9) round out the field.

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Although racing’s two leading ladies will steal the spotlight on Saturday, plenty of other stakes are happening around the country, including some key Kentucky Derby preps.

Eclipse champion 2-year-old Lookin at Lucky is making his first start outside of California, his first start on conventional dirt and his first start with blinkers in the Grade II Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park. Trainer Bob Baffert chose to ship the colt for his season debut after the success he had bringing stablemate Conveyance in to win the Southwest last month.

Lookin at Lucky, who hasn’t started since winning the CashCall Futurity at Hollywood in December, is 5-for-6 lifetime, with his only loss coming by an unlucky head in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. He also owns wins in the Best Pal and Norfolk. The half-brother to Jim Dandy winner Kensei breaks from the two under regular rider Garrett Gomez.

Hopeful winner Dublin was a hard-charging second in the Southwest in his season debut after breaking poorly and sitting near the back of the pack down the backstretch. The strapping son of Afleet Alex breaks from the outside, post 7, and gets a rider change, as the legendary trainer Wayne Lukas is choosing to replace Terry Thimpson with Corey Nakatani.

Noble’s Promise (Robby Albarado, post 6) is making his first start since running second to Lookin at Lucky in the Futurity. Cardiff Giant (Christian Santiago Reyes, rail) was second in the San Rafael and third in the Southwest.

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The unbeaten Caracortado, winner of the Robert B. Lewis last out, highlights a balanced field of seven in the Grade II San Felipe at Santa Anita. The gelding, who will be ridden by Paul Atkinson as they break from the outside, is 5-for-5 lifetime and hopes to use this race as a springboard into next month’s Santa Anita Derby.

Todd Pletcher ships in Interactif time in hopes of breaking onto the Derby trail. The colt won the With Anticipation at Saratoga and the Bourbon at Keeneland, both on the turf. Rafael Bejerano will ride, and they break from post 2.

American Lion, who gets the services of Eclipse winning jockey Julien Leparoux, won the Hollywood Prevue, then was third in the Lewis last out. The colt has blinkers on for trainer Eoin Harty and breaks from the four.

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Super Saver won the Kentucky Jockey Club last fall on the same track where the Kentucky Derby will be run in less than two months. The colt tries to take another step toward that goal in today’s Grade III Tampa Bay Derby. The colt breaks from post 6 for trainer Todd Pletcher and will have NYRA leading rider Ramon Dominguez aboard.

Odysseus (Rajiv Maragh, post 7) is coming off an impressive allowance score at Tampa and Uptowncharlybrown (Daniel Centino, rail) is 2-for-3 lifetime at the track, including the Pasco Stakes.

Also on the Tampa card, Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies winner and Eclipse champion She Be Wild is favored in the Grade III Florida Oaks.

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A balanced field of 11 older campaigners will challenge the Grade II Gulfstream Park Handicap. Nick Zito sends out Gulfstream specialist Cool Coal Man, who is 4-for-5 lifetime at the track, including an allowance win last time out in his season debut. Cool Coal Man will be ridden by Eddie Castro and drew the nine.

This Ones For Phil is trying to stretch his speed out to a mile after winning a blazingly fast edition of the Sunshine Millions Sprint last out. Johnny Velazquez rides for Rick Dutrow. He’ll have to use his speed early, breaking from the outside, post 11.

You And I Forever (Javier Castellano, post 10) was second to Quality Road two starts back in the Hal’s Hope, Grasshopper (Alan Garcia, post 8) returned from a layoff of over nine months to win a Gulfstream allowance last out and the talented Harlem Rocker (Eibar Coa, post 5) is rounding his way back into form on the third start off a long layoff.

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The speedy Bickersons was planning to try to wheel back on just over two weeks rest in the Grade III Cicada at Aqueduct. But she'll get some extra time, as rain and high winds forced the postponement of today's card. The race will be rescheduled for March 20.

Bickersons won the Moccasin last fall and the Forward Gal earlier this year.

With the Kentucky Derby less than eight weeks away, there's little margin for error remaining. Things kick into high gear this week, as trainers juggle the schedules of their top contenders looking for the best preps and riders are, well, jockeying for the best mounts. Several of those changes make for intriguing storylines this weekend.

Eclipse champion 2-year-old Lookin at Lucky was scheduled to board a plane this morning for Arkansas, where he'll make his sophomore debut in the Rebel Stakes on Saturday. The colt worked five furlongs in 1:01.20 Monday morning at Santa Anita as his final tuneup.

Trainer Bob Baffert selected the Oaklawn prep because he'd like to get Lookin at Lucky on a conventional dirt track sooner rather than later. The Rebel will be the colt's first start on dirt, first start outside of California and first start with blinkers. If weather forces the postponement of the Rebel - the Southwest at the track in February was postponed by five days - Baffert can ship the colt home to fall back on the San Felipe.

Although the Southwest is the traditional prep for the Rebel, Baffert won't have to worry about conflicting interests in the race, as he'll instead send Southwest winner Conveyance to the Sunland Derby on March 28. The unbeaten colt was under consideration for the UAE Derby, but Baffert said that idea has been eliminated.

With or without Lookin at Lucky, both the Rebel and San Felipe should draw solid fields as crunch time for the Derby draws near. Hopeful winner Dublin figures prominently in the Rebel after finishing a closing second in the Southwest. The son of Afleet Alex sizzled through a five furlong work on Sunday in :59.60, fastest of 56 at the distance. Hall of Famer Wayne Lukas is switching jockeys this time out, as he plans to name Oaklawn leading rider Corey Nakatani on the colt when entries are drawn this week, replacing Terry Thompson. Grade I placed Noble's Promise and Southwest third-place finisher Cardiff Giant are also expected in the field.

Baffert says his promising Tiz Chrome won't make the Rebel after missing a few days of training - but another lightly raced colt by Tiznow, ironically trained by Baffert's former assistant Eoin Harty, will. American Lion breezed five furlongs in a minute flat on Monday and is ready to go.

American Lion is owned by WinStar Farm, which is loaded for bear this spring. They'll also send out Super Saver, the likely favorite in this weekend's Tampa Bay Derby. The winner of the Kentucky Jockey Club last fall at Churchill Downs will be ridden for the first time by NYRA leading jockey Ramon Dominguez. He'll replace regular rider Calvin Borel, as Borel will be otherwise occupied riding Rachel Alexandra in her season debut at the Fair Grounds. But Borel won't be out in the cold come Derby time - he will pick up the mount on Fountain of Youth runner-up Jackson Bend for the April 3 Wood Memorial, replacing regular rider Jeremy Rose.

Super Saver is trained by Todd Pletcher, as is WinStar stablemate and Sam F. Davis winner Rule, headed to the Florida Derby on March 20. But Pletcher could choose to send Rule to the Wood Memorial instead, avoiding a confrontation with fellow trainee Eskendereya, runaway winner of the Fountain of Youth. All three colts worked on Monday, with Super Saver going five furlongs in 1:00.71, Eskendereya a half in :49.38 and Rule five furlongs in 1:01.09.

Champion 2-year-old Lookin at Lucky will make his sophomore debut in the Rebel Stakes on March 13 at Oaklawn Park.

It will be the first start outside of California - and thus the first start on dirt - for the winner of the Best Pal, Norfolk and CashCall Futurity. Lookin at Lucky's only loss came by an unlucky head in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

Trainer Bob Baffert says he likes the idea of sending the colt to prep over an Oaklawn track that was kind to him with another California shipper - Conveyance, winner of the Feb. 20 Southwest.

"The Rebel looks like it will be a nice, tough race," Baffert said. "We'll see what happens."

Another trainer with a barn full of top 3-year-olds to juggle is Bob Baffert. The Hall of Famer said Tuesday that 2-year-old champion Lookin at Lucky could make his season debut in the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn on March 13. Baffert had previously been leaning strongly toward the San Felipe, the same day at Santa Anita, but now seems to prefer getting Lookin at Lucky on dirt as soon as possible. The colt is 5-for-6 lifetime, with his only loss by a head in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

Stablemate Conveyance won the Southwest on Saturday at Oaklawn, a prep that usually leads into the Rebel and Arkansas Derby. But there's no conflict, as Baffert would like to give the unbeaten son of Indian Charlie more time between starts.

One unconventional possibility would be heading to the $2 million UAE Derby on March 27 at Dubai's new Meydan Racecourse. Conveyance is owned by Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed al-Maktoum's Zabeel Racing, making international competition attractive. If the colt remains in the United States, he would likely head to the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on April 3, or skip the Rebel and head straight to the April 10 Arkansas Derby.

Another Baffert trainee headed out of California is Tiz Chrome, fourth in the Robert B. Lewis. The colt will make his next start in the March 6 Gotham at Aqueduct.

Following his exciting win in Sunday's Grade II San Antonio Handicap, trainer Bob Baffert says Dubai is still the plan for Richard's Kid.

Sent off the favorite, Richard's Kid trailed early behind a slow pace and still had eight lengths to make up on the leaders with under a half mile to go. He rallied furiously up the inside to nip Dakota Phone by a head.

Baffert says the horse emerged for the race in good shape; a shipping date hasn't been decided yet. Richard's Kid was purchased by Sheikh Rashid's Zabeel Racing last month with the specific intent of pointing for the Dubai World Cup. The $10 million race, the richest in the world, will be held at Dubai's new Meydan Racecourse on March 27.

While Nad al Sheba, the track on which the World Cup was run since its 1996 inception, is dirt, Meydan uses a synthetic surface. Richard's Kid has two wins, a second and a third in five stakes starts on synthetic surfaces in California; in addition to the San Antonio, he won the Grade I Pacific Classic in September.

Baffert has won the World Cup twice, with Silver Charm in 1998 and Captain Steve in 2001.

The last couple of days have been full of news - and not all of it good - about this year's Kentucky Derby hopefuls.

Winslow Homer, winner of the Grade III Holy Bull just over a week ago, is off the Derby trail with a stress fracture. According to owner Rick Porter, the injury is not career-threatening and the colt should return to training in early April. The son of Unbridled's Song has won all three of his starts at three different tracks, and was being pointed to the Fountain of Youth later this month.

Champion 2-year-old Lookin at Lucky returned to the racetrack this morning after spending the weekend getting over a slight illness that included a temperature. The early Derby favorite hasn't started since winning the CashCall Futurity in early December; trainer Bob Baffert plans to start the colt in California in March, but no race has been selected yet.

Dublin, winner of the Grade I Hopeful at Saratoga last summer, is looking fit and ready for his 3-year-old debut. The son of Afleet Alex breezed a strong six furlongs in 1:14 at Oaklawn this morning, still showing some immaturity but overtaking two workmates easily enough in the stretch. The move was the best of six at the distance. Terry Thompson was aboard and will keep the mount on Dublin for the Southwest Stakes on Feb. 15, the first of two preps leading up to the Arkansas Derby in April.

Yesterday morning at Santa Anita, two well-regarded colts turned in their final works for this weekend's Robert B. Lewis Stakes. Tiz Chrome zipped five furlongs in 59.20; the Baffert-trained son of Tiznow is 2-for-2 lifetime, including a win in the Stuka Stakes in December. The same morning, American Lion covered the same distance in a minute flat. Eoin Harty trains this colt, also by Tiznow, who won the Grade III Hollywood Prevue in November and has been freshened for this.

In Oaks news, Steve Asmussen had two of his newly turned 3-year-old fillies out on the track this morning at the Fair Grounds, as Dashing Debby went a half in 50.40 and Hot Dixie Chick went the same in 51.20. Hot Dixie Chick won the Schuylerville and Spinaway at Saratoga last summer, but hasn't started since the latter. Dashing Debby, a daughter of Medaglia d'Oro, broke her maiden in the JJ's Dream Stakes at Calder last July and was privately purchased by Jess Jackson - who also owns another Medaglia d'Oro filly you may have heard of - but she's finished poorly in two stakes since. Both fillies recently returned to work after getting the winter off.